What is Better for Carpet Cleaning? Steam Cleaners Or Regular Vaccum Cleaners?

Necessity is the mother of invention. Carpets were invented in the sixties and became popular very quickly. Following this breakthrough, manufacturers needed to make something to clean the carpets and preserve their texture. Thus, there came the invention of the first vacuum cleaner.
In today’s world, with the rise of pollution, dirt and grime has also become more sticky and difficult to get rid off. People have started developing asthma and other allergies, all which demand the need of a cleaner, safer environment in the home. While regular vacuum cleaners are able to remove surface dust only, carpet steam cleaners go deep into the base of the carpet and the carpet fibers to eliminate dirt from the roots.
Features of Carpet Steam Cleaners
The steam vacuum works by injecting superheated steam onto the carpet. The high temperatures allow complete removal of the toughest stains, as well as kill all dust mites and other allergens. This way the carpet is sanitized to the maximum. The self contained carpet steam cleaners are the best combination as they have inbuilt vacuum cleaners which allow the surface dust to be removed as well as the debris from the base of the carpet.
Rotating brushes are also part of the machine, which make sure the steam reaches all parts of the carpet and any sticky dirt is removed completely. Mostly, hot water has to be added to the machine, but the newer models are being manufactured with their own water heaters which keep the water at the optimum temperature allowing maximum efficacy.
These steam cleaners are helpful in areas, apart from carpets as well. They can be used to clean all types of places, from cooker hoods to the inside of ovens. Even tiling and toilet corners can be effectively disinfected using these steam cleaners. Along with domestic use, carpet steam cleaners have become the best tool for carpet cleaning, in various industries, like hospitals, restaurants, hair salons and even trains. The quick drying of these gadgets allows continuous use, making it practical and convenient for everyone.
Carpet steam cleaners are far more superior to vacuum cleaning, when it comes to efficacy. Nevertheless, it is a time consuming activity and certain carpets with delicate threads may get damaged permanently. Keeping these facts in mind, we can come to the conclusion, that steam cleaning is a must for every household, at least once a year, while carpets should be cleaned with a regular vacuum at least once a week.

Steam Carpet Cleaning and What you Should Know

One of the most widely used methods of carpet cleaning is the steam carpet cleaning method. As the primary mode of cleaning carpet, many of the professional carpet cleaning companies use this method. This method of cleaning carpets is also known as Hot Water Extraction. Other carpet cleaning methods can be counted as light surface cleaning. Steam carpet cleaning is considered the only real deep cleaning method.

Many people considered steam carpet cleaning as the automatic choice for maintenance and cleaning method, except alternative carpet cleaning methods came to. This is why till today, steam carpet cleaning has been one of the major carpet cleaning businesses in the United States. Here, in this article, we will discuss a few essential facts about steam carpet cleaning that you must know about.

Is It Water Steam or Spray?

This is known as the process of steam cleaning. A fine spay is normally applied first. This forces water into the carpet and breaks up the dirt deep down. The vacuum cleaner is located in the front of the sprayer and then sucks up all the dirt. In the steam carpet cleaning method, professionals spray a water solution mixed with detergent over the carpet. Then a vacuum cleaner is used to remove the water and soil together.

Truck-Mounted Vacuum vs. Portable Vacuum

Many professional cleaners use a truck-mount vacuum machine to extricate the soils from the carpet, or else, they may also count on small and portable vacuum machine which can be carried over to the home or office. Nevertheless, the truck-mounted system is the most common because it provides a better cleaning.

This steam carpet cleaning method is mostly appreciated, seeing as the truck-mounted system extricates the dirty air and humidity outside of the house. It does not allow the dirty air to re-circulate throughout the house. In addition to that, the truck-mounted system is more efficient than the portable system and the truck-mounted system facilitates a better cleaning job.

Potential Drawbacks

You can see that steam carpet cleaning gets the carpet wet. In addition to that, the pad at the bottom of the carpet also becomes wet. If there is not any ventilation in the room or if the humidity is too high then steam cleaning of carpet may increase the vulnerability of mold growth. Once the evolution starts, it is virtually impossible to resist. It can also create some health problems like asthma and allergies. Many cleaners use products to help cut down on mold growth. If you have a professional doing the job you do not really need to worry about it.

What You Don’t Know About Carpet Cleaning Could Void The Manufacturer’s Warranty

Chances are that your carpet was manufactured by one of the largest mills in the world. Shaw, Mohawk and other well known manufacturers recommend “steam cleaning” and they may actually void their warranty if improper cleaning methods are used. It is also a fact that most carpet cleaners use this hot water extraction method commonly referred to as steam cleaning. That being said, there are 5. 5 interdependent pieces that determine a thorough and effective carpet clean:1. Use hot water: Whether you’re taking a shower, washing your clothes, or the dishes, this same principle applies. Water-soluble substances dissolve more quickly in hot water than in cold water because hot water molecules have more momentum than cold water molecules, which translates to more reaction with the cleaning solution. It’s called “steam cleaning”, because the truck-mounted equipment heats the water beyond the boiling point. 2. Use products to dissolve and suspend: Cleaning products (and most detergents) chemically have a head and a tail, the head is water-soluble, and the tail reacts with grease and soil, etc. The head reacts with the heated water from our truck-mounts while the tail reacts with whatever substance to be removed from the carpet. Professionals use carpet cleaning detergents that are specially formulated for use on carpets with hot water. 3. Allow products to work: Dwell time is important for the chemical reaction to take place. Think about when you wash your casserole dish; doesn’t soaking the baked on food makes is easier to wash it off? Experienced carpet cleaning technicians know just how long to let a product do its job. 4. Agitate carpet fibers: Scrubbing may be necessary when carpet fibers are extremely dirty as you sometimes find in high-traffic areas. Carpet cleaners use a special carpet scrubber to agitate the carpet fibers to ensure that the cleaning products are as effective as possible. 5. Thoroughly rinse with clean water: The most important component to cleaning a carpet is to rinse everything out. Using clean hot water under high pressure to rinse out the cleaning products along with the grease, tar, sand, dirt and other contaminants is a critical step. 5-1/2. Remove the dirt, detergent, and water. Truck-mounted cleaning units generate a powerful vacuum that can suck out and dispose of all the dirt, grease, toxins, and other foreign matter suspended in the water and carpet fibers. Over 90% of the water will be removed with this process. Pre-treating stains can also make the cleaning process more effective and thorough. To hasten the drying process and align the carpet fibers to make them look like new, a special tool called a carpet rake is used. A skilled technician will know just how much or how little of these five steps to apply to different cleaning situations in your home. It’s a little known fact that the carpet mills can test samples of your carpet to determine if your carpet was properly cleaned or whether the terms of their warranty were violated.

Steam Cleaning: What Can You Do to Make it Faster and Affordable?

Steam Cleaning provides an effective way of cleaning dirt, dust, grime and stains in your house. Steam Cleaning works on environmentally sound and stable technology offering value and affordable cleaning solutions for commercial and household use. Steam cleaning equipment consists of a sealed boiler which is filled with tap water enabling heating of water between 240-260 degrees. For more results you can visit at www. your-own-home-theater. com The vapor thus generated is lighter then air we inhale, and carries 5-6 % moisture making it an effective tool to uproot and remove dirt and stains from variety of surfaces. Steam Cleaning offers eco-friendly ways to clean our house walls, kitchens, and tiles without use of harmful and environmentally degrading chemicals. There is no expulsion of harmful gases in the air during Steam Cleaning making it most sought after option of the modern day cleaning needs. Steam Cleaning doesn’t affect the indoor quality of air. Steam Cleaning has been in use since seventies, but did not catch up with household consumers due to cost and bulky machine setup. Steam cleaners have grown smaller in size, efficient in use and portable to carry around. You have had your share of spills and stains on your carpets followed by a frenzy of frantic calls to Steam Cleaning services for help. No doubt, the Steam Cleaning professionals were quick to respond, but not before you paid exorbitant charges and waited for them to arrive with their whims and fancies. So, what can you do to make it faster and affordable? Probably you need to buy a steam cleaner to get rid of your cleaning troubles. Steam Cleaning enables dry vapor to penetrate deep in to the pores and dislodge the impurities and embedded foreign particles without use of detergent and toxic cleaners. Steam Cleaning is an eco-friendly process relying on use of tap water. You can also go to www. america-gardener. com. Steam Cleaning uses as much as 1 -1/2 quarts per hour, as fine and thin vapor is generated at very high temperature. Moreover, less moisture content of vapor fastens the drying process and speeds up the cleaning. There are two different types of steam cleaners: Cooler and humid Steam cleaners: These cleaners don’t boil water producing cooler steam with more moisture content. Hot and dry Steam Cleaners: These cleaners boil water above 240 degrees to generate hot and dry steam. Steam Cleaning eliminates residue from all types of surfaces, killing fungus, mold, mildew, viruses, and bacteria. Steam Cleaning facilitates cleaning of floors, window sills, bathrooms, kitchens, granite, upholstery, fiberglass, and hard to clean nooks and crannies of the house. Steam Cleaner removes soil, grease and debris from the surface, sanitizes and deodorizes it. It must be noted that heat sensitive surfaces like thin plastics and silks are difficult to clean using dry vapor.

What is Truck Mounted Carpet Steam Cleaning?

One way, if not the best way to get your carpets truly clean would be through Truckmounted steam cleaning. After you’ve chosen to get your carpets cleaned by this method, now you only have to find somebody that can do it correctly! Truck mounted carpet steam cleaning is the only recommended method for cleaning your carpets, so that you don’t void your carpet warranty. So, what does truckmounted mean? In the world of carpet cleaners, to be “truck mounted” simply means that a cleaning machine used to clean carpets is mounted on or in a vehicle, usually inside of a van. This machine is usually a standalone unit. It is very powerful and does not require anything more than just a water connection from a prospective clients residence or business. These machines were made to provide a simultaneous combination of hot water / steam injection and powerful vacuum extraction, in order to get your carpets clean and dry. If your carpet cleaner’s truckmounted equipment requires an electrical connection in order to operate, their “machine” is not a truckmount. There are other types of carpet cleaning units called “portable machines”, but they are nowhere near as powerful as their gasoline powered counterparts. Besides, they use up way too much of your electricity, making for a big bill! But then again, you need a good extreme portable unit to get that 18th story high rise condo unit cleaned! Gas powered units provide powerful vacuum suction for water extraction and use a “heat exchanger” to heat the water, bringing it’s temperature up to 210 degrees Fahrenheit. Some truckmount owners also have additional equipment in order to get the water even hotter than that! All in all, truck mount carpet cleaning is the best way to get your carpets cleaned, thoroughly flushed and rinsed and depending on how much power your carpet cleaner’s machine has, it will even leave your carpet relatively dry without the aid of any additional equipment. But still, quality carpet cleaning is a step-by-step process. For more information about the best Truck Mounted San Diego Carpet Cleaning has to offer, visit my website.

What to Look for in an Air Duct Cleaning Company

Air duct cleaning is a relatively new industry that has exploded as a $4 Billion a year industry in the United States alone, in the 21st century. Some people have embraced air duct cleaning as a beneficial service, while others have criticized the service and view the service as a waste of time and money. More than likely though, people who have their varying view points for and against the service are both correct on this issue in one way or another and in this article I will address why I think that both sides raise interesting and very good points that you as a consumer should consider. In this article I will address different air duct cleaning methods and explain what those methods are, I will explain credentials so that you can better understand who the organizations are and who they represent and last I will address the common scams that are out there so that you as a consumer can avoid being caught up into such scams to increase the possibilities of receiving a good service performed correctly, should you ever schedule an air duct cleaning service in the future with a local service provider. The two most common air duct cleaning methods are the “contact cleaning” method and the “Power vacuum air wash” method in air duct cleaning. The contact cleaning method in air duct cleaning involves the use of shop vac style equipment to keep constant contact between the vacuum hose and duct work surface during the cleaning process. Generally speaking the companies that employ this form of cleaning charges less money for their services, because they know that they are limited in what dirt, dust and debris that they can actually pull out of the air ducts and are typically in your home to perform the service for 30 minutes to 1 hour. There is usually no benefit to an air duct cleaning service when this method of cleaning is performed, however it may be beneficial if the actual vent boots were full of construction debris or dog food or whatever and you did not feel like cleaning the vent boots and preferred to just get a cheap service provider out to do that work for you instead. Now, the power vacuum air wash method in air duct cleaning involves the use of expensive powerful equipment to allow a technician to deep clean the entire HVAC system. The vacuum hose is usually 8-12″ in diameter and is installed in the main trunk line to put the entire air duct system under a deep and powerful vacuum. No kidding, every vent in the house will have a powerful vacuum pulling hard off of every vent in the house for a perfect negative air containment, which disallows any cross contamination of dirt discharges in your home to occur during the cleaning process! The vacuum machines could be 220 volt HEPA rated negative air machines, gas powered or diesel powered machines to generate a powerful enough vacuum to perform the service properly. Compressed air tools are used to air wash all of the dirt, dust and debris to the power vacuum hose installed in the main duct, trunk line. When the power vacuum air wash form of air duct cleaning is performed correctly the service usually takes anywhere from 2-4 hours to perform the service in an average sized home. Reputable companies will clean all supply boots, adjoining supply branch lines, supply trunk line(s), supply plenum, return boots, return channels, return trunk line(s) and return plenum, virtually 100% of the entire HVAC system. It is vital that the entire air duct system is cleaned, because if any debris and or contamination is left in the system, then that missed debris and or contamination will just recirculate again to recontaminate the air duct system as if nothing was even done, once the furnace is turned on again after the air duct cleaning is complete. A typical forced air ventilation is a circulatory system of constant air in and air out when a furnace is in operation. Companies that are licensed for HVAC will also thoroughly clean the furnace and evaporator coil (indoor coil that is often above the furnace). The benefits can be tremendous with this method of cleaning, such as increased air flow, increased HVAC system efficiency, reduced dust in the home, reduction in unpleasant odors deriving from the air ducts and increased life expectancy of working HVAC parts such as surface igniters, blower motors, limit switches and capacitors that dirt, dust and debris destroys over time. A reputable company that pays their technicians well, maintains their tools & machinery and possesses all of the proper credentials such as ACCA membership status, EPA certified technicians to handle refrigeration and carries proper insurance(s) will charge anywhere from $425. 00-$1000. 00 per HVAC system for about half a days work to properly clean each HVAC system. The price swing is also factored by different cost of living standards depending on where you live in the country and varying overhead costs that each company carries. Some one in Manhattan New York would probably be near the $1000. 00 price per HVAC system cleaned, whereas someone in Austin Texas would be near the $425. 00 per HVAC system cleaned. The cost of living is much higher in Manhattan New York than in Austin Texas, so logically air duct cleaning in Manhattan New York would cost more than in Austin Texas. Credentials are very important! Beware of companies that have no credentials at all, because an in experienced service provider can cause a lot of expensive damage to your HVAC system, if they don’t know what they are doing and you surely don’t want to be stuck with an expensive repair bill as a result. The best credentials that a service provider can have is the ACCA membership status. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) HVAC system cleaning standards is the only air duct cleaning standard accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). ANSI is a reputable international organization that creates rigid tough standards to improve products and services for the better good of the consumer to ensure that the product or service is safe and effective. If an organization lacks ANSI accreditation, then they lack validity to their product or service(s) in the HVAC, Heating, ventilation and air conditioning field. A prime example of that would be NADCA, which stands for the National Air Duct Cleaning Association. NADCA has raised some good guidelines to follow in an air duct cleaning procedure, however they lack knowledge in having much HVAC technical knowledge to deliver the best procedures in cleaning your furnace or evaporator coil, which is at the heart of the entire air duct system. Very often NADCA member companies are not licensed for HVAC, which increases your risk when hiring them to clean and HVAC system. These vital working components needs to be cleaned as well, which means in my opinion NADCA will leave you in the dust pertaining to HVAC system cleaning. The safe approach to take is to shop around with ACCA member companies to ensure that your HVAC system is cleaned correctly by a licensed HVAC contractor or company rather than hiring an under trained carpet cleaner or air duct cleaner. Air duct cleaning is a good service to have performed if it is done properly by an ACCA member company, however many companies have exploited the good service that many homeowners and building owners desire by delivering bait and switch tactics or blow and go air duct cleaning procedures that leaves the system contaminated after the service has been performed. 9 times out of 10 you should discredit ads that state air duct cleanings start at $59. 00-$199. 00 for up to 10 vent lines cleaned. Only two results will derive from these forms of advertising such as Company “A” arrived for $79. 00 and in fact cleaned 10 vent lines with a shop vac type machine and left within 1 hour leaving your system contaminated or Company “B” arrived to clean 10 vent lines for $69. 00 and their technician explained that the returns are very dirty too and they can be cleaned for $25. 00 each. Now your ticket has turned to $144. 00 with 3 return lines cleaned. While the technician is still cleaning he realizes that your trunk lines are dirty too and up sells you on that to clean a supply trunk line for $100. 00 and to clean a return trunk line for another $100. 00, which now turns the ticket into $344. 00. You’re done with receiving the up selling, right? No, think again, because the technician explained to you that he had to cut out accesses into the ductwork to clean it right, he of coarse now has to sell you clean out doors to install so that all of your air doesn’t escape out of the system, so he quotes you at $75. 00 for each clean out door installed to make the ticket $494. 00 from an additional $150. 00 for two doors sold. If the job was performed correctly that would be fine, however the guy is in your house with a shop vac type machine, which means he received $494. 00 from you to leave your HVAC system contaminated. After he leaves once the air duct cleaning service has been performed, you realize that dust is blowing out of all of the vents when the furnace cycles, because he disturbed a lot of dust during the air duct cleaning, because shop vac style machinery are in effective in performing a thorough air duct cleaning service. You could have called a reputable company that is an ACCA member company utilizing the most powerful equipment in the industry to give you an “up front” price quote right in the same ball park for price as the bait and switch company eventually got out of you, to get the job done thoroughly and correctly. If it is too good to be true, that is because it is. Buyer beware, these bait and switch tactics have been going on for years and usually the companies that follow these price structures are the very companies leaving the majority of dirt, dust and debris in your ventilation system that they were paid good money by the customer to clean out. When shopping around for a service provider that offers air duct cleaning as a service, make sure that they are an ACCA member company, which tells you that they are licensed for HVAC and check their record at the BBB. If they have a few complaints that is fine, so long as all of the complaints have been resolved. You know there is a huge difference with 5 complaints all quickly resolved and 112 complaints unresolved. These contractors and companies deal with the general public, which means they deal with all different walks of life of different personalities and characters on a daily basis. It is almost impossible if a company has done enough volume of work to keep a perfect record with the BBB. Usually the companies that are small and have not done too many jobs are the only companies that have the perfect score with the BBB. No less, the BBB is still a good reference though, to safe guard yourself from blatant scamming companies and it would be wise to reference companies there if you are unsure of the companies over all reputation. The conclusion of this article is if a company is licensed for HVAC, uses the most powerful air duct cleaning machinery in the industry, performs air duct cleanings by the power vacuum air wash method and has a good reputation with the BBB and other reporting institutions, then air duct cleaning will more than likely be performed thoroughly and properly in most instances, so that you can realize positive results such as increased air flow coming out of vents, odor reductions deriving from the vents, increased HVAC system efficiency and increased furnace and air conditioning part life. Author: Mike Meincke Managing Member of Lucky Duct, LLC. Lucky Duct, LLC is a full service licensed heating and air conditioning company that operates in Denver Colorado. Visit www. luckyduct. net to find more great information and facts on air duct cleaning. Enter the “Air Duct” page to find air duct cleaning related content.

What You Want To Know About Steam Clean Pressure Washers

Pressure steam cleaners are machines that clean surfaces using steam or hot water. The steam and the pressure behind the machine provide a very efficient way of removing dust mites, allergens, mold, fungus, and bacteria. This is the preferred way of cleaning in such places as hospitals, restaurants, pharmacies, and hotels. In the traditional sense, steam cleaner pressure washers are composed of a boiler, a collecting tank, a hose and brushes. Hot water is sprayed under pressure on the surface being cleaned. The amount of pressure that you need or the flow rates are what will likely direct you to the machine that you will eventually purchase. The flow rate is the amount of water that you will be able to use to remove the debris. The pressure expresses how hard the water will approach the surface of what is being cleaned. When you are cleaning flat surfaces it is more important to have a high rate of flow as that will make it much easier to loosen, remove, and wash away the debris. When you are cleaning surfaces that are not flat or that might be vertical, pressure would be more likely what you would be interested in. These units have advanced quite nicely and are more affordable than you may think. There are various styles and accessories that are available for power steam cleaners. Steam cleaner pressure washers are available in gas powered or electric powered capabilities. Obviously the gas powered versions are more portable and less constricting which is convenient for outdoor work. They are also more likely to offer a longer life expectancy with less repairs needed. The electric powered steam pressure washers are not vulnerable to wet conditions and while they can be used outdoors they also can be used indoors as well. The gas powered steam cleaner pressure washers can not be used indoors as they omit carbon monoxide. Another benefit of the electric version is that it makes much less noise. Commercial pressure washers and industrial steam cleaner pressure washer’s offer much more industrial equipment than pressure washers designed for use in the home. Many commercial users use poor judgment when buying home pressure washer machines because they are much cheaper. The problem is that they will never last as they are unable to endure the industrial workloads. Steam cleaner pressure washers depend upon heating coils that reach temperatures past 300° F, and are much better than either cold or hot water pressure washers in regards to removing grease, dirt, concrete stains, food, chewing gum, unsightly graffiti, and numerous other types of debris. Stainless steel or heavy carbon heating coils are most reliable and also assist with creating the correct environment and ultra high temperatures that are needed. Another perk of steam cleaner pressure washers is that they do not rely on chemicals like cold water pressure washers do. The high steam pressure that is omitted is excellent to clean better than hot water and cold water pressure washers. The method of powering a pressure washer is every bit as important as the heating method.